Scientists call it piper methysticum, or “intoxicating pepper,” but in Hawaii, it’s known as ‘awa. Studied and used by people as diverse as researchers, nutritionists, and native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, this plant and the products derived from it will again be explored and shared at the Hawaii Pacific Island Kava Festival. The free, public festival [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Food'
Loco Moco Smackdown in Waikiki
June 18th, 2010 by Ryan Ozawa · No Comments · Business, Events, Food
The loco moco is a famous (and infamous) island dish: white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and thick brown gravy. Its presence on the menu is often a measure of how “local” an eatery is. And while the home of the loco moco is the sleepy town of Hilo on the [...]
Tags: Food·locomoco·restaurants·waikiki
Good Eats, Good Deals, Good Cause
November 14th, 2009 by Ryan Ozawa · No Comments · Food, Hawaii
The second-annual “Restaurant Week” fundraiser begins on Monday, Nov. 16, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 22. Over 50 restaurants are participating, ranging from greasy spoons to fine dining. Each is offering a special deal for special dishes during the week, meanwhile donating a portion of the proceeds toward ambitious plans to build a vastly expanded [...]
Tags: dining·Food·restaurants
‘Man v. Food’ in Honolulu
September 9th, 2009 by Ryan Ozawa · 3 Comments · Food, Hawaii, Television
Tonight on the Travel Channel, “Man v. Food” turns the spotlight on Honolulu. The program, which crosses the country in search of local traditions and regional specialties, challenges host Adam Richman to partake in each destination’s indulgences. While on Oahu, he’s introduced to the loco moco at Hukilau Cafe in Laie, kalua pig and pipikaula [...]
27th Okinawan Festival
September 8th, 2009 by Ryan Ozawa · 3 Comments · Events, Family, Food, Hawaii, Video
Okinawan Festival from hawaii on Vimeo. This past weekend brought the 27th annual Okinawan Festival back to Kapiolani Park. More than 40,000 people turned out over two full days to revel in all things uchinanchu, showcasing everything from traditional Okinawan performances, to delicious food, to several cultural activities. My family and I checked things out [...]
Ono Kine Grindz Returning
December 27th, 2008 by Ryan Ozawa · 2 Comments · Blogs, Food, Hawaii
Ono Kine Grindz, one of the most popular Hawaii food blogs, was effectively shuttered earlier this year when Reid decided that he needed a change. He signed off in September promising to return… leaving many of us hungry for more. Today, Reid posted a brief update at the original Ono Kine Grindz blog hosted at [...]
Flavors of Honolulu Festival Begins Friday
June 25th, 2008 by Ryan Ozawa · 1 Comment · Events, Family, Food
Save your appetite and round up the kids, this weekend brings the second-annual “Flavors of Honolulu” festival on the Honolulu municipal grounds (near Honolulu Hale and the Frank F. Fasi Building). The three-day event mixes over a dozen restaurants, live performances by several local artists, and highlights including a wine-tasting tent and a celebrity cook-off. [...]
Aspartame Ban Proposed in Hawaii
January 29th, 2008 by Ryan Ozawa · 9 Comments · Hawaii, Politics
It’s the stuff of urban legends and a million e-mail forwards: aspartame (a.k.a. Nutrasweet, Equal, and other brands) causes cancer, brain tumors, and a multitude of other ghastly and deadly health problems. And while the FDA, MIT, and several other so-called “experts” have constantly affirmed the relative safety of aspartame, hundreds of thousands of web [...]
Tags: aspartame·ban·bill·conspiracy·equal·Food·foodsafety·Hawaii·law·nutrasweet
Spam Musubi, Loco Moco are Top Island Treats
October 24th, 2007 by Ryan Ozawa · 2 Comments · Food, Hawaii, Pop Culture
Betty Shimabukuro, food writer for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, has reached out to Mainland readers to educate them on Hawaii’s favorite foods. And they’re not coconut and pineapple. In a special to the Los Angeles Times titled, “10 Hawaiian culinary specialties to sample” (guess the headline writer missed the AP Stylebook update on ‘Hawaiian’), she urges [...]
Häagen-Dazs Does Hawaii
October 16th, 2007 by Ryan Ozawa · 5 Comments · Food, Hawaii
Kudos to style maven Leigh at hapa | hale for spotting a new ice cream flavor from Häagen-Dazs: Hawaiian Lehua Honey & Sweet Cream. It’s an entry in their “Reserve” series, highlighting “rare and unique ingredients” from around the world. So, from the Big Island of Hawaii: Rich, sumptuous waves of cream mingle with evocative [...]
Tags: bigisland·dessert·Food·haagendazs·honey·icecream·lehua
